Collapsible partition



Jan. 10, `1928.

H. A. SIMPSON COLLAPSIBLE PARTITION Filed Nov. s, 1924 @Noruego Patented Jan. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT HERBERT A. SIMPSON, orEAs'i LANsiNQMICniGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE Vrnn'iiriioiv.

Application `filed November My invention has among its objects ,to

provide means tor converting a room intov a number of smaller rooms. A vfurther object ot myinvention is topi'ovide a collapsis j ble `partition normally"concealedy Within a hollow cabinet forming a column or recess and adapted to be extended to forni a partition.

verting a large. church room into a number oil smaller Sunday school rooms, or for con verting a room into one or more booths, etc.

One example of an application 'of my invention maybe Vformed in connection with churches. A primary requisite 'in present day Sunday school Work is the provision of a large number ot' individual class iooms tor departn'iental Work. Most of the older church buildings and many churches otv .iiiodern construction haveY not made pro- 'Vision for this need. My invention has among its objects the provision ot' a plurality ot cabinets designed to `represent ornamental columns and adapted to cont-ain a Vpartition which maybe extended to divide the room into smaller rooms.

`lVith these and other Yobjects in yieiv, the invention resides in the novel teatifires ot construct-ion and combinations and arrange- 'Y ments of parts as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. I

Referring to the drawings:

n igure 1 1s a perspective View showing my partition extended into operative `j josition;` liigure Q is a section View through the rubinet, the partition being folded Within Figure 7 is a detailA View shovving one means of supporting one of the from a Wall or the like.

leterring to the drawings 10 indicates a cabinet or column preferably supported by curtain rods a base 11 so as to position its rear Wall 12 sired length,y acollapsible tripod stand The invention is particularly adapt` ed, though not necessarily limited, for con- 35 i924. semina. 'rrr/2659.l

adjacent' the Wall ot a yroom Which is to be partitioned. Instead of so arranging ythey cabinet, I might locate it entirely Within the Wall iorming a recess opening outwardly into the room. The cabinet 10l iswprovided with a movable panel 13 which is pi'votally mounted'adjacent one end by pins-1-l carried byl shoes 15 slidably engaging in longitudinally extending channelsflG in yoppositesides ofv y At the theiinner side faces of the cabinet. other end the panel is supported Within the bottom molding 11. 17 is a brace compris in'gfthe ktelescoping Vsections 18 and 19, 'the former of which ispivotally connectedat'QO to the base ot' the cabinet andthe latter of which is similarly pivoted at 21 to the panel 13 intermediate its ends. 22' is a compresf sion coil spring kWithin the sections of brace 17 ^the' `spring tending to torce section 19 away rfrom section 185 'the' outwardr limit being determined assliown in Figure 5 by aspring 'clip 23 carried by collar Qtwvhich isy adjustable by a set screw 25er the like longitudinally along the'section 19. `The opposite end of the spring clip-23 carries a projection 26 adapteditoengage afs'uitable -recess in the'section 18 as the' sections slidel longitudinally vot each other. t'ory holding the sections in proper extended position. Movementot the sections ot the brace 17 is acs companied by an outward ymovement of the 'panel 18 from the positionshown inFigur'e 2 to a horizontal position as shown in Fig-y ure 3, shoes -15 1sliding in slots 1G to guide the panel in its vmovement.V One ot the f shoes is preferably provided With a deteiit` 2T adapted to auto'inatically engage a rec 28 in latch 29, the latter being weightedxat 30 to normally position the recess 2S in the path of the' detent 27. A stop 31 may be provided to limit the movement.

Curtains 3Q' and 33 are adapted to form* partitionwvalls and arecarried by rings 34 upon telescopic; rods 35 and 36 respectively. The latter" iodsvare suspended from the panel 13 adjacent the pivoted end thereof by means ot' hooks, the rods being suspended at their other end by means of hooksv 38L swiveled inthe panel 13vfwhereby either `rod may be disengaged from yits hooky 37 and sWiVeledjupongitshook 38to` direct it at any angle 'tor forming a partition ofthe room. As shown in Figure 1 ro`d'36fis v poysitioned at*substantiallyv a 900 angle vwith Vrod Qvthe rou 36 being extended tothe desupportingvthe free end ol' rod 36 in a 5J- shaped bracket 40 carried by stand 39. The legs of the tripod are preferably collapsible so that when not in use the stand may be housed within the cabinet 10.

Preferably when stand 39 is employed as shown in Figure 1 the rod 36 is extended to form a partition greater than the normal length of the rod would provide, where a plurality of adjoining rooms or partitions are desired, the cabinets 10 are spaced within limits defined by the extended length ot the rods. ln this latter instance, the stands 39 are dispensed with, the extended rods ruiming parallel with the wall adjacent the cabinets, the extended free ends ofthe rods being supportedby the outer ends ci the fixed rods of the next panel 13. Thus, the curtain extending longitudinally of the panel llforms a partition perpendicularly with the wall, the other curtain of the cabinet extending parallel with the wall to complete the room.

For retaining the curtains in folded posi` tion, upon the rods at one end thereof there is a spring clip 41 slidingly supported in bracket d5 formed with legs l2 connected by an offset portion 113 with a body portion 4A, the latter being at right angles with the legs 42. The clip A'11, when the parts are collapsed askin Figure 9, is positienedse as to Adirect the legs 42 perpendieularly lwith the :panel 13 against the curtains 82 and 33 thereby holding them in place at one end onthe curtain rods. After the panelpl is swung, outwardly to thevposition shown in Figure 3 the clip ellis swung through an Yarc of in'its bracket d5 until the body portion ld is perpendicular to the panel 13 and the legs d2 are in cont-act therewith,.

then the` clip is slid longitudinally of the panel until the offset portions el?) serve to hold the clip, by reason of its resilience, in the position shown in Figures 3 and 6, the rings 311 carrying the curtains are then distributed along the length ot the curtain poles.

Referring to Figure 7, l have shown a.

manner of supportingthe tree end ot one of the rods from a wall i6 instead ot the stand 39 as shown inA Figure V1. ln this construction an eyelet il? is screwed to the wall el@ and the end of rod 36' (or rod 35) is suspended from the eyelet through a hook d8 having a part 19 extending downwardly and outwardly from the wall so as to engage the curtain rod and hold it spaced `from the wayl sufficiently to accommodate the head 50 ofthe curtain rod.

Inoperation with the parts olded within the cabinet as shown in Figure 2, panel 13 islifted by a suitable handle or as shownin Figure 1, by engaging the lingers in the recess 13 in the face of the panel 13. The panel Lis thus lifted suliiciently to clear the Lemme bottom molding 11 after which the panel will Vswing outwardly under the influence ot spring 22, until the projection Q6 engages the opening in the section 1S to rigidly unite the telescoping sections 1S and 19. pane 13 swings outwardly on its pivotal pinslil the shoes l5 slide downwardly in slots 16 until detent 2T swings latch Q9 on its pivot to engage recess 28 as shown in Figure 3f. Upward movement of the shoes 15 is thus prevented by latch 29. rlie curtains 82 and are then distributed along the curtain poles. Vln this position in iirst assembling the apparatus, should the panel lil not be horizontally extended the collar lmay be adjusted by set screw 25 longitudinally of 'the section 19 in order to shorten or lengthen the brace 1T. Clip '1l-1 is then swung into the position shown in Figures 3 and 6. @ne of the curtain rods (or both if desired) is then released from the hoolf. 3T and swung on the swivel hook 3S at any angle to form the desired partition. The free end of the curtain rod is then supported by a stand 39 or from the wall as shown in Figure 7. may be collapsed and stored within the cabinet 10.V Y

ln restoring the parts to the position shown in Figure 2, the operator releases the sp ing clip 23 and rocks the latch Q9 suiiiciently to disengage the recess 23 from detent 27. rlhe panel may then be swung toward the cabinet, the lower end of the panel being positioned behind the molding 11.

lt is obvious Yhat by arranging two cabinets opposite each other a curtain of each cabinet can be extended perpendicularly n tendedirce ends abutting and supported by a stand such shown at 3S) to iiorm a partition across the room. Thus, the room may if desired, be divided into a plurality et rooms by transverse partitions.r

lili desired any one cabinet may be arranged to loi-in a room by partitioning oil' a corner ot a rooni by extending one of the curtains at an angle of 90o with the ex tended panel 13, the tree end ol the extended rod being supported by a stand 3J or from the wall by the device shown in Figure i', preferably the latter.

lThe cabinets also provide space for the storing of class supplies such as. books, papers, maps, etc. This feature is ot considerable Value to teachers in avoiding loss ot such papers and confusion incident to their misplacement.

rlhe cabinetmay be designed to represent an ornamental or structural column iitted snugly against the ceiling thus adding to the attractiveness of the room.

lv'hile it is believed that from the fore-I is the rlhe stand 39 when not in use' :All

Ynocifs-:sia

going description, the ynature and advan- 'ages of my inventionl will be readily understood, I- desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself t-o what is herein shown and described and that such cliang'es'may a brace having its opposite ends tastenedfto tlie panel and cabinetresp'ectively, apair of kcurtain poles supported kadjacent the panel, and curtains supported by saidpoles to torni partition walls, one ot said cui-tain rods having; av swivel connection at its outer end for positioning its curtain at an angle with the other said curtainY rod.

A partition comprising a cabinetliaving a, panel movable outwardly therefrom, a brace having its opposite ends fastened to tlie. panel and cabinet respectively, a pair ot curtain poles supported adjacent tlie panel, and curtain supported by said poles to t'orm partition walls, one ofv said curtain rods having a. swivel connection -at its outer end i`or positioning' its curtain at an angle with the other said curtain rod, and means Swiveled curtain rod.

t'or supportine' the free end oi the saidv 3. A partition comprising` a cabinet hav` ing a panel movable outwardly therefrom, a. brace having its opposite ends fastened to the panel'and cabinet respectively, ka pair et curtain poles supported adjacent the panel, and curtains supported'by said poles to torni partition walls, one of said curtain rods having" a lswivel connection at its outerend Jt'or'positioning its curtain at an angle with the other said curtainy rod, and means for supporting` the free end ot' the said swiveled curtain-rod, said curtain rods, curtain and brace adapted to iold within tlie cabinet when not in use. f

l. A partition eoiiiprirliiiig` a cabinet provided with a. movable panel normally positionei'l" longitudinally ot tbe cabinet and forming,- a Vtrout closure therefor, said panel having al pivotal sliding nioven'ient at one end with said cabinet permitting said panel `to be extended outwardly from tlie cabinet,

said panel in its outward position being wa lls.

brace for guiding the outward moveineiitfoi I the ypanel and ior supporting said paiielin its extendedv position, and means for supporting a partition wall by said panel.

6. A partition comprising a cabinet provided with a panel havingT a sliding` pivot-al engagement at one end thereof with said cabinet whereby said panel may be extended outwardly from saidv cabinet, a telescoping,`

brace for supporting said panel in its ei:-y

tended position, Vand means fory supporting a partition wall by said panel, the support tor one ot `saidwalls permitting' its adjustment at an anglewitli tliefotlier oi 7; A collapsible partition tor coi'iverting a room into a number of smaller rooms conir pi'ising a .fixed .open front member, a panel adapted to form a closure for said opening, said panel being pivotedto extend outwardly from the cabinet adjacent the upper end thereof and provided with means formino' partition walls for converting a room into smaller rooms suitable for classroom pur'- poses and means for supporting` said panel in itsextended position. n

S. A collapsible partition comprisinga cabinet havingl an open front and a panel Vforming` aclosure for said :iront and mov--y able outwardly therefrom, said panel. in its outward position being` pivoted adjacent tlie upper end'of the cabinet, a brace having4 its oppositev ends fastened to the panel and cabinet respectively for guiding` tbe outward movenient ot the panel, saidbrace being located within the cabinet at times, and

'means associated with the panel and carried thereby in its extended position forminp` a, partition Wall for convertingl a room into smaller rooms suitable for classroom pui'- poses. l Y

9. A collapsible partition comprising` a cabinet having a panel movable outwardly therefrom, said panel in its outward position being' pivoted adjacent the upper end of the cabinet, a brace having its opposite ends fastened. to the panel and cabinet respectively, a pair of curtain poles supported adjacent the panel and adapted to lie within the cabinet in the folded position ott'tlie panel and curtains supported by said poles to form partition walls 'lor converting a room into smaller rooms suit-able for classroom purposes wlien said panel is moved outwardly from the cabinet.

l0. A collapsible partition comprising a cabinet formed with an openl front and pro-V vided With a movablepanel normally positionedlongitudinally of the cabinet to form a closure for said opening, said panel having a pivotal sliding movement at one end with said cabinet, permitting said panel to be eX- tended outwardly from'. the cabinet adj acent the upper end thereof, means for bracing,` the panel in the latter position, and a said y Uil curtain caiiiecl by the panel i'or converting l'ooin into sniallei' iooine suitable tori classroom purposes :toiloi-nnng a partition in the extended position of the panel.

-ll. A collapsible partition conipiieing L cabinet formed with a panel, shoes pivotecl to the panel, said cabinet having grooves aoapteel to eliclabljy receive Said elioes peiinittinf@` saicl panel to nieve downwardly :incl ont- Waiclly from said cabinet, snicl panel in its outward position beine' pivotecl :ulincent tlie upppei' enel of tbe cebinet. nieane for bi'aeinej said panel in its outward position comprising' a telescopine' bil-nce, a coil spi-ing within Snicl bi'nce nesieting tlie ontvfai'tl niovei'nentot the pnneL ineane ioi' poeitively holding; the telescopic Sections in 'extenile'fl pofaiition. a letcli foi' holding` the panel in its extenderL position ancl partition Walls associated Witli saicl panel in its extended position i'oi conveiting` iooni into smalle;1 ronnie Suitable for claseiooin purposes.

l2. A cabinet coinilnising` loneitnClinalhv extending` ggiooif'es, a panel having` pivotal Sliding; connection in Said grooves :unl a telescopio brace secured at its opposite ends to the panel and cabinet respectively, said panel in its Outward position being` pivotecl adjacent the upper enel of the cabinet, a cin'- tein cariiecl by the panel, anrl ineens associated with the brace tending to niove the panel foil positioning` the curtain to :toi-in a. partition toi1 converting a iooni into smaller i-oonis suitable foi' class iooin pulposes.

13. A collapsible partition for converting n iooni into Smaller ioonis conilrnising e cabinet linving a panel movable ontn'ai'clly tliei'efrom, abizice having; its opposite ends fastenecl to the Ypanel and cabinet respectively, a pair of cui-tain poles supported adjacent the panel anfl adapted to lie Within the cabinet in the ifol lecl position oi? the panel, cui'- tainS supported by Sziifl poles to forni partition Walls nlien seid panel is inovefl ont waiclly from the cabinet, and means for Securing the curtains at one enel of the curtain polen Wlien tlie panel is in its folclefl position.

ln testimony n'lieieo l nilix my signature.

HERBERT A. SIMPSON. 

